Annual Black Friday rite begins for Cape shoppers

Nina Wallace rattles off the challenges associated with her Black Friday adventures - the Centerville woman braves the cold in the wee hours of the morning.

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By ROBERT GOLD

capecodtimes.com

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Nov. 21, 2012 at 2:00 AM

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Nov. 21, 2012 at 2:00 AM

For openers

Itching for some early morning Black Friday shopping? Retailers are happy to oblige. Here is a roundup of some area shopping destinations and their hours Friday: Kmart, Hyannis: Midnight to 3 a...

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For openers

Itching for some early morning Black Friday shopping? Retailers are happy to oblige. Here is a roundup of some area shopping destinations and their hours Friday:

Kmart, Hyannis: Midnight to 3 a.m.; 5 a.m. to midnight.

Walmart, Falmouth:

1 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Walmart, Wareham:

1 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Target, Wareham and Kingston: 1 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Kohl's, Plymouth:

1 a.m. to midnight

Toys R Us, Hyannis:

1 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis: 12:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Nina Wallace rattles off the challenges associated with her Black Friday adventures.

The Centerville woman braves the cold in the wee hours of the morning.

A 32-year-old mother of three, she doesn't like battling the fatigue of being awake well beyond midnight.

And the rush of customers is "madness" she said.

But Wallace considers the shopping trek an enjoyable holiday tradition.

"It is fun. You usually run into people you know, or you meet new friends," said Wallace, who is thinking about arriving at the Falmouth Walmart before it opens at 1 a.m. Friday.

The deals at the various retailers also entice her to keep coming back.

"I'm a sucker for a good deal. I have to get the deal," she said.

Shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is an annual rite for many people. But national retailers are opening earlier and earlier, often shortly after midnight.

"It's kind of created more of a buzz around Black Friday, said Bill Rennie, vice president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

In other states, national retailers are starting to open Thursday evening but in Massachusetts, blue laws prevent the stores from operating on Thanksgiving.

Massachusetts Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony said more stores are staying open longer on Friday.

"That may be a good thing — that means the crowds may be spread out a longer period of time," Anthony said. "It makes it a little less hectic in the store itself. I don't think there is less interest in terms of the shopping day itself."

Wallace said she's glad Massachusetts doesn't allow Thanksgiving Day shopping, so people can spend time with their families. But the ever-earlier hours on Friday appeal to her.

"I think I like it. I don't like staying awake. I don't mind they are opening a little earlier," she said.

The state office of consumer affairs and business regulation put out a Black Friday shoppers guide this year, offering consumer advice such as getting receipts and knowing particular store guidelines. It is available at www.mass.gov/ocabr.

According to a national survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 33 percent of consumers plan to shop on Black Friday.

That translates into an estimated 80.5 million people the survey said. Forty-one million are expected to shop Thanksgiving Day.

In recent years, retailers have offered more sales earlier in the week, too. And Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are also coming up in the days ahead.

Wendy Northcross, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, said its hard for local retailers to compete with online shopping.

The chamber plans on marketing the Cape next month in the metro Boston area and locally as a good spot for Christmas shopping and overnight stays. But the chamber will wait for the Black Friday frenzy to end before unveiling the plan in December, she said.

"The thing about this weekend that's so appealing is people have time off," she said.